Redmond in central Oregon shows spruced up downtown; Newberg future could be similar (photos)

Perhaps Redmond can be an example of what will happen in downtown Newberg, once the initial phase of the Newberg-Dundee Bypass is complete in 2016.

Downtown Redmond, just like Newberg, used to be pounded by traffic as U.S. 97 made its way right through the heart of town. That changed when the northern section of U.S. 97 in Redmond was rerouted around downtown, to the east, in 2007.

Once the dust from that project settled, the downtown streets were torn up for reconstruction. Some of it was still going on this spring, during my most recent visit to Redmond.

The City of Redmond also built Centennial Park, a square block of open space with spraying fountains, in time for the city's 100th birthday in 2010. The result is that downtown Redmond is much more pleasant for residents and visitors, certainly worth a Portland visitors time to take a detour into downtown from the U.S. 97 reroute.

Newberg is a gem on a town, one of the best of its size (22,000) in the Northwest. It's problem has been all that traffic. Recently, I saw three semi-tractor trailers fully loaded with hay bales rumble through the downtown streets. That kind of traffic will be rerouted to the bypass.

Downtown Newberg will still be busy, because it will remain on Oregon 99W and the bypass will be routed as Oregon 18. But Newberg will get its chance to fully embrace its location in the heart of Oregon's wine country.

Newberg's Allison Inn & Spa, plus the Chehalem Cultural Center, are only the beginning of what awaits in Newberg's future.

Take a look at downtown Redmond and envision something similar happening to Newberg.